After finishing his final round at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, David Duval found three reporters waiting to talk to him. A general assignment reporter from the Riverside Press-Enterprise, a PGA Tour radio guy who’s so pro player that Phil Mickelson makes sure to wish him Happy New’s Year, and myself. It wasn’t exactly a gauntlet gearing to grill him.

So what does David Duval do?

He marches for the parking lot faster than John Daly can run, makes us fire questions as we struggle to keep up (calling Phil Mickelson’s trainer!, calling Phil Mickelson’s trainer!) and attempts to lose us.

This in the wake of a tournament when Duval played relatively well by the standards of his second golf life - 9 under, tied for 53rd. No one’s received more sympathy from the golfing public and press than David Duval. But sometimes you have to wonder why?

Especially when he acts like a big baby.

This isn’t a personal complaint. The parking lot sprint and answer session is going to make the feature I’m doing on Duval - the one TravelGolf.com’s own readers asked for after a newsletter I wrote on Duval fascinating even more than Tiger - even more colorful. Reporters love this kind of drama, believe me.

But if you really think it over, it’s just terrible two toddler behavior. Duval could have stood there, answered questions for five minutes and been done with it. Instead he had to play the beleaguered athlete, when in reality no one’s been given a bigger free pass than him.

Is it Duval’s right to try to out racewalk reporters in a parking lot?

Sure. But it makes him loom as a big phony.

Remember, this is the same Duval who recently ripped the PGA Tour’s new TV deal, by noting “If we’re trying to reach out to non-golf fans, how you leave out ESPN is beyond me.”

Well, if Duval’s so interested in reaching out to non-golf fans - and he’s one of the rare golfers whose story is interesting enough to cross over - shouldn’t he be talking to every notebook and microphone around?

19 comments

I ain't ever heard so much crap. REPORTERS BEING NICE TO HIM. I have followed Duval since like forever and through his freefall he has put up with so much stuff from lets face it half baked reporters who could never achieve anything at the game to what David has. If anyone doesn't believe it I'm sure I can forward on all of the poorly written articles that have surfaced over the last few years telling Duval to give it up. Everytime I have been and seen him he has been only to happen to stop and sign autographs for fans for what seemed like forever so don't make him out to seem ignorant HE JUST DOESN'T LIKE YOU GUYS and neither to alot of people HA HA.

Give the guy a break. You guys in the press are so full of yourselves. He just finished five grueling rounds and he knows that all you want to do is get the "story". Not his story but your story. The one you want to write. And, your waiting for him him the parking lot? Why not just hide in his closet? I'm sure David Duval has a lot to focus on right now and he doesn't need some slugs stalking him. Wait until he get the Comeback Player Of The Year award and put in a formal request with his agent. I'm sure he'd love to talk to you then. Most fans want to see him play. So let him.

Duval clearly has a lot of confidence issues, and most of them probably stem from second-guessing himself after all the negative press he has gotten lately. He was the #1 player in the golf world for quite awhile.

I see your article as arrogant and high-minded. Duval makes your lives difficult because he doesn't like the press. If I were famous, I'm sure I wouldn't like the press much either, because they want the dirt, not the reality.

Take a deep breath and try to see it from his perspective. I think your article is trashing him for a natural human instinct: to run from the jackals.

I agree with the other comments above. He finished outside the top 50. How many other guys who finished that low on the board were you waiting to interview. I imagine DD is a bit sick of the questions and talking points: "I'm playing well, I finally made some putts, family life is good, etc., etc." He has gotten somewhat of a "pass" from you guys, I guess. Except don't forget that it was Duval who won the British Open, and Duval who earned himself the exemption and the right to be on Tour. I suppose that's the only "pass" that matters. So forgive me if I don't exactly buy the fact that he was acting like a big baby. He was more likely acting like a golfer who had just finished pretty low on the leaderboard, who had been answering questions and responding to the incredulous journalist's core who just can't believe he's made 2 cuts in a row.

My goodness, Mr. Baldwin. How did you manage to anger so many David Duval fans so quickly? I didn't even realize David Duval had that many fans left. Perils of journalism, I suppose. All you did was simply call Duval a baby repeatedly. Surely, in your mind you were being soft on Duval, and yet, these ungrateful bloggers harped on you like "step child in a trailer home." My empathies, Mr. Baldwin, especially considering that you had to sprint after one ingrate DD in a parking lot for the sake of journalism.

The truth is somewhere in the middle. Trust me, I have my own issues with the "press," but Duval has chosen to earn a living in a visible trade which requires interaction with the media, whether he is playing well or not.

His attempts to regain his form and his emotional mindset during this quest is a compelling story. And stories can't be told unless the subject is engaged in conversation.

Granted, it is up to DD as to how he handles interview requests, and he has every right to answer or not answer questions, realizing that it does imapct the way he is potrayed via the press.

On the flip side, I do agree that blindsiding a guy in the parking lot is a bit...well..Paparazzi-like.

I have dealt with DD on a professional level and he is a class act, very intelligent and thoughtful with a great personality to offer when he chooses to let people in.

Take a look at the press you have given him for saying nothing. Get off of your self and go find something to write about. As if he's the only guy there that you can try to get word from... Does the word paparazzi mean anything to you? Next thing you will be running him off the road for a story...

Baldwin would fit right in, in Buffalo. We just hired Dick "no nickname" Jauron as our new Bills head coach, and already the local no-nothings/press are criticizing him. Now, Duval is no longer cut, nor involved with that marathon-running chick, so how is it that you athletic reporter brethren couldn't catch him?

David Duval wasn't blindsided in parking lot. He was asked to talk right outside the scorer's tent in the designated media area. He chose to led us into the parking lot.

As for paparazzi, that's the biggest joke in the world. David Duval's never come close to facing paparazzi. There were real paparazzi at the Bob Hope, following the real celebs, like Justin Timberlake and Michael Bolton. Athletes have it the easiest of any public figures by far in general. And David Duval in particular.

And Ron Mon, Dick Jauron is a horrible coach. Marv Levy lost his mind. It should be screamed from the rooftops of Buffalo.

Duval is @ 37th on the all-time all-inclusive (winnings, contracts, bonuses, etc.) money list for pro golf, and still pulls in @ $4M/yr for losing right now...it's his job and responsibility to do interviews and promote the sport, as he sold his on-course privacy (as do all pro athletes) for the $'s

Let me see if I understand this situation correctly.....
DD is an American citizen who has the Constitutional right to privacy (as he or anyone else determines the time and place) but just because he chooses 'not' to be subjected to the inquiries of a handful of arrogant, self centered,self serving 'so called journalists', he is a baby ?
I don't seem to recall hearing him doing the whinning.

Bill, where the hell does the Constitution mention PRIVACY? LOL! And while DD and other celebs certainly have a right to it in, say, their homes --- I just don't see it at a venue. I mean, since the very beginning of organized sports (a BUSINESS, after all) owners have seen the obvious value of the publicity that sports writers provide for FREE. I guarantee you Tim Finchem cringes when he hears about PGA Tour players dodging media. It just doesn't make a bit of sense and the whole idea is to sell a product. Well, sports writers (with the free PR they provide) help do just that.

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